WHATS UNIQUE ABOUT THERA BLEND

Ingredients

Flaxseed oil
The prominent oil in TheraBlend is flaxseed oil.  Flaxseeds are unique because of their composition of essential fatty acids and high lignan content (please see NutrI Fiber monograph for an in-depth discussion of the health benefits of lignans from flaxseeds).  Alpha-linolenic acid is considered the parent omega-3 fatty acid from which all other omega-3 fatty acids can be made, including EPA (fish oil - please see EFA metabolism chart).   From the forgoing discussions it is clear that omega-3 deficiencies are the main EFA deficiency in this country.  Many studies demonstrating the efficacy of supplementing omega-3 fatty acids have used fish oil capsules.  In order to take in therapeutic amounts (3-10 grams/day) many capsules have to be swallowed. Since  EPA is especially vulnerable to oxidative damage and the fish oil in the capsules are exposed to air, light and room temperatures it is not surprising to find that oxidative deterioration has been detected in encapsulated fish oil (61).  Properly processed and stored flaxseed oil is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids.  Does flaxseed oil (high in alpha-linolenic acid) have the same benefits as EPA supplementation?  Numerous studies have shown that using flaxseed oil (about 2 tablespoons per day) can raise both serum levels of alpha-linolenic acid and EPA by over 200% (62, 63).
Since Thera-Blend was designed to be used as a long term food (supplement) to obtain a balanced blend of EFAs, it is composed of more than flaxseed oil.  Just using flaxseed oil long term could mean that the intake of omega-6 fatty acids would become imbalanced in comparison to the omega-3 fats.  The specific oils chosen for TheraBlend are based on their health promoting properties, their specific fatty acid profiles, and taste.

Borage oil
With adequate amounts of linoleic acid (omega-6) in the diet presumably people can use the delta-6 desaturase enzyme (see EFA metabolism chart) to make GLA which then can be used to make the "anti-inflammatory eicosanoids of series 1.  The problem is that there may be up to 20-30% of the population which has low activity of this enzyme and therefore is unable to metabolize linoleic acid effectively (64). Borage oil contains a significant amounts (24 - 27%) of GLA.  Having "preformed" GLA in the diet is a way to ensure that beneficial series 1 eicosanoids can still be made despite a possible inability to convert linoleic acid.  An example of GLA's anti-inflammatory properties is demonstrated by its effectiveness in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (65).  

Soy oil
Soy oil is an excellent source of linoleic acid and contains high levels of the fat lecithin (phosphotydlcholine) and the lipid antioxidant vitamin E. Soy oil is composed of 9% omega-3 and 50% omega-6 fatty acids.   Lecithin from soy has been shown to reduce blood triglyceride levels and platelet aggregation (66).

Sunflower oil
This oil adds flavor and is a rich source of omega-6 fatty acids.  The fat composition of this oil  is 89% omega-6 and 19% monounsaturated fatty acids.  Monounsaturated fatty acids are those that are found high in olive oil.  Olive oil has been noted for its ability to resist oxidative damage and is thought to partially account for the low incidence of heart disease in Mediterranean countries (67).
Interestingly, sunflower contain compounds (benzopyrans) which are known to have antimicrobial activity (68).

Sesame oil
Sesame oil is added in the blend for its flavor and fatty acid composition.  Sesame contains 41% omega-6 fatty acids and 46% monounsaturated fatty acids.  Sesamol, a potent antioxidant compound is also found in sesame oil.  This oil has a long history of being used topically and internally with many health benefits in the oldest system of medicine known, Ayurvedic medicine, originating in India (69).
Sesame oil also contains plant compounds known as lignans.  These compounds appear to have biological activity, as has been well studied for flaxseed lignans (70).  Sesamin, a lignan found in sesame seed oil may be beneficial to help treat hypertension and help lower blood cholesterol ( 71, 72).

Pumpkin oil
This oil is composed of 60% linoleic acid and 20% monounsaturated fatty acids.  Pumpkin seeds (Curcurbita pepo) also contain high amounts of zinc, vitamin E and plant sterol compounds (73).  These plant sterol compounds may account for the beneficial action of pumpkin seed oil on the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (74).   

Production
All the oils used in TheraBlend are extracted by a process in which the temperature never exceeds 118 degrees Fahrenheit.  The oils are put into opaque bottles and flushed and sealed with inert gas to prevent oxidation.  In this way the freshness and purity are preserved and oxidative damage is prevented. 
Besides the correct processing it is extremely important to start with organically grown seeds.  Organically grown plants have been shown to have higher nutrient content than commercially raised